LOS ANGELES, CA-A 20-year-old Indian-American contestant delivered the standout audition during the first episode of the final season of American Idol. Sonika Vaid impressed the judges – Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr – with her soulful cover of ‘Look at Me,’ the hit by former Idol winner Carrie Underwood. No sooner had the episode been broadcast than Vaid was making headlines as the potential favourite to win.

Vaid lives in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, with her Indian parents, who both emigrated to the United States. “They started from having nothing,” said Vaid, who was accompanied by her mother at the audition. “They always lived with the American dream in their mind. “My mom has been the biggest support system in my life. She claims she’s my number-one fan.” “This is one of the only times this particular season that I saw somebody that I actually think can win this thing,” said Connick. “You sang beautifully.Perfect performance. I was totally engaged.Terrific job.” Lopez also congratulated Vaid, saying: “I love it, I love it a lot.”Urban added: “How beautiful that you just let it go, too? You didn’t stack it with a bunch of clever runs. You just sang.”American Idol’s latest season is its 15th and final edition. Since its premiere in 2002, only two contestants of South Asian origin have reached the final 12 stage of the competition: Sanjaya Malakar, who finished seventh during season six, and Anoop Desai, who placed sixth during season eight.